Extension top or canopy for vehicles.



PATENT-NN JAN, 3 4, .19%,

A, L. BOWEN. EXTENSION TOP 0N CANON PQR VNNNCLNS.

APPLICATION FILED JUNE 20,1907.

UNTTED STATES PATENT onion ALBERT-L, Bowan', oewoRC-ESTER, MASsieHUsiyrTs, ASSIGNOR To CHARLES K. PEvEY, o

wosensTnn, MASSACHUSETTS.

EXTENSION TOP oa CANOPY Foa VEHICLES.

Specification of Letters Patent. i

Patented Jas. 14,1908.

Applicata nai Jun@ 20.1907. sean ai.. 379.962.

To (1N lei/tom. "it muy concern.'

Be it known that l, ALBERT L. BOWEN, a citizen of the lfnited States. :residing at tforcesten in the county of. `Worcester and State of Massachusettsy have inventedeertain new and useful linprovementsinlilxtension Tops or Canopies for Yehieles: and l do hereby declare the following to be a ful, clear and exact deseriptionjlof the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art' to which it appertains to malte and use the same. l

)ly invention relates to extension tops or Canopies for vehicles. y w l.

lt has for its main object toprovide a canopy which can be extendedor folded by one man while in the vehicle.'

A\no1her object' is to providedneans for securing' the canopy bows when folded so that the)l will not rattle.

.The nvention consists in the features of construction and combinations'of parts herewhen folded, upon inafter described and specified in the claims.

ln the aceompanying drawing, illustrating the preferred embodiment of my invention: Figure l is a perspective view of the body of an auton'iobile with the framework of the canopy extended and the cover of said framework removed. Fig. 2 is a broken side elevation of said automobile body showing the framework of the canopy folded and secured. Fig. it is an enlarged broken detailed view showingr the construction of pivot-clamps, and Fig. 4 is an enlarged ysectionalview on the line :lt--x of Fig. 2. i j

Referring more particularly to the drawing, 1 desigi'iates the body of an automobile, 2 the rear scat. and 25 the front seat thereof. A pivot-pin 4 secured to each side of the rear seat and on Said pins is mounted the main or upright. bow 5 of the rear section of the canopyiframe.- A second orI auxiliary bow is pivoted to said bow 5 at 7 and extends rearwardl therefrom. The main or upright bow 8 of the front or extensible section ofthe canopy frame is pivotally mounted, ins 9 of the bow 5. A Second or auxiliary )ow 1t) is pivoted to the bow 8 and extends forward therefrom.y When the front section of the frame comprisingthe bows S and l() is extended, it is mounted on pins 11 secured to the sides of the front scat.

Between the main bows 5 and 8 respectliefiiolitshort bow 13 are similarly mounted on pivot-clamps 15 Jfastened to the bow 8.

Flexible straps or bands 17 any suitable material connect the hinged. pper portions of said short bdlws and the horizontal portion 1 8 of the bow 5. Said strapsor flexible eonnections are of such length as to limit the.

movement of the short bow 12 to a position where its vertical 'portions are oblique to the bow 5 and its-horizontal portion 1s 1n substantially the Same horizontal plane as the The 'ends of the rear short i horizontal portions of the main bows 5 and 8 when the frame is extended. -@ther flexible connections or ystraps 19ers preferably fastened aeross the top of the frame,- beingsecured to the bow 6, then to the bow 5, then to the bow 8 and then to the bow 10. and rearguy straps 20 and 21 respectively are adapted te secure the bow 10 to the front of the body and the bow 6 to therear thereof when the frame is extended; 1f yheavy `or strong material is used for covering the frame of the canopy, the straps or flexible connections 17 and .19 and `the guys l1 may be dispensed with but it is `preferable to use them to prevent. wear and strain en the covering.

Each of the pivot-c1a1nps 15 and 16 has two flexible gripping members 22 which may be bent to conform to different sizes oi bows. Said clamps are prevented from slippingv by bolts 23 passed through the bows and carrying nuts 24. Each clamp has two inwardly projecting lugs, a short one 25 above the pivot and a longer one 26 below it. 'lhe upper lugs have their ends groovod at 27 to 'lit the short bows when the frame is folded. lower lug on the clamp 15 has` its end grooved as at 28 to receive the beveled end or tongue 29 of the lower lug on the opposite clamp 16. By means of this construction of clam is the bows when secured by the straps 3() will be prevented from rattling when they are folded.

It will be observed that the short bows and connections 17A will brace or support the weight'. of' the extensible section of the frame as it is being,r moved into its extended 'position and adjusted on the pins 11 mounted on The Front@ the sides of the front seat` Because the weight of said front section is thus upheld,

one man is able to extend or fold the canopy' alone while in the vehicle, whereas it recarry the extensible section of a canopy of ordinary construction forward and mount it on the front pins. `In adjusting the old form of canopy the front bows are liable to sag or slip and scratch the body of the vehicle whereas when my invention is used this is impossible. The pivot clamps I employ are neat in appearance and will not disiigure a nice top.

I claim:

1. A canopy frame for vehicles comprising a rear section and a front extensible section, each having an upright bow, a pair of short bows pivotally mounted on said upright bows and having their upper horizontal portions hinged together, and flexible connections between the short bow pivoted to the rear upright bow and said rear upright bow for the purpose specified.

2. A canopy frame for vehicles comprising a rear section and a front extensible section, each having a main or upright bow, a pair of short bows pivotally mounted on said up? right bows and having their upper horizontal portions hinged together, and flexible con-- nections between said hinged portions lof said short bows and the upper horizontal portion of the upright bow of the rear section for the purpose specified.

3. In a canopy frame for vehicles, the combination, with a plurality of long bows and vshort bows, of pivot-clamps mounted on said long bows and having means to pivot said short bows, said clamps having projecting lugs provided with tongue and grooved ends respectively adapted to engage each I i other when said bows are folded, and means i to secure said bows in their folded position.

4. In a canopy frame for vehicles, the

other when said bows are folded, and means -to secure said bows in their folded positions.

5. In a canopy frame for vehicles,- the' combination, with a plurality of long bows and short bows arranged between them, of pivot clamps mounted on said long bows and clamps having flexible portions to v engage .the opposite sides of said long bows and adapted to be bent to conform to different two sets of projecting lugs, one set being arranged above the pivots and havin their ends grooved to fit the vertical portions of said short bows, the other set of lugs being their ends tongue and grooved and adapted -to engage each other when' said bows are folded, and means to secure said'bows in their foldedv positions.

n In testimony whereof, I aflix my signature, in presence of two witnesses.

ALBERT L. BOWEN.

Witnesses v 1 JOSEPH" R, EDsoN, GEO. A. HU'romNsoN.

i combination, with a plurality of l'ong bows quires one man on each side of the car to yrespectively and adapted to engage each longer and arranged below said pivots with having means to pivot said short bows, saidv i sizes of bows, said clamps also provided with 

